Lava Canyon to Smith Creek Butte

Activity Notes

A lengthy and demanding adventure hike down Lava Canyon and up Smith Creek Butte. Lava Canyon is one of the most scenic areas in the Mt St Helens Volcanic Monument, featuring steep basalt cliffs and dramatic waterfalls. Smith Creek Butte, on the far side of the wide Smith Creek basin, is a rarely visited peak just east of the monument boundary. This hike will require a high level of fitness and movement skill, covering just over 16 miles and just under 4000' of gain.

Some of the terrain in Lava Canyon is steep and narrow with uneven and/or loose footing, and has been the site of fatal accidents. The trail to Smith Creek Butte will likely be less treacherous but will likely be overgrown and poorly maintained. If rain is forecasted, we will change plans to another hike that is safe in wet conditions.

I have listed this hike at a 2 mph pace, but applicants should expect that we may move faster or slower than 2 mph depending on terrain. When the terrain is flat or downhill and simple to traverse we may move as fast as 3 mph. Moving uphill in simple terrain, we will travel at 2-2.5 mph. When impeded by steep slopes, thick brush, or difficult terrain with exposure, we may move much slower. Applicants should be comfortable with easy scrambling, exposure, bushwacking, and have a high level of fitness.

We will carpool from the MMC at 6 a.m., arriving to the Lava Canyon Trailhead no later than 8 a.m. I am planning for the hike to take 10 hours or less, with a strict 2 p.m. turnaround time to avoid reascending Lava Canyon after sunset.

You can preview a map of the route here: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/custom-routes/custom-route-smith-creek-butte-trail-0c936cc?u=i&sh=yjqrva

A trip report from 2023 about a hike to Smith Creek Butte approaching from the north (we will be approaching from the south) is available here: https://willhiteweb.com/fire_lookouts/smith_creek_butte/lookout_site_033.htm